Process of forming hollow seamless rubber articles.



No. 687,249. -Patnted Nov. 26, I90l. T. w. MILLER. v

PROCESS OF FORMING HOLLOW SEAMLESS RUBBER ARTICLES.

(Application filed Aug. 10, 1901,)

(No Model.)

UNITED STATES PATENT "OFFI E.

THOMAS W. MILLER, or AKRON, OHIO.

PROCESS OF FORMING HOLLOW SEAMLESS RUBBER ARTICLES.

SPECIFIGATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 687,249, dated November26, 1901-.

Application filed August 1901. serial N0. 71,552. (No specimens.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, THOMAS IV. MILLER, a citizen of the UnitedStates,residing at Akron, in the county of Summit, State of Ohio, have 5invented new and useful Improvements in Processes of Forming HollowSeamless Rubber Articles, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to processes for mak- IO ing hollow 'fiexiblerubberarticles-such as balls, punching-bags, Water-bags, &c.'and has for itsobject to provide an improved process whereby a seamless article will beproduced, the article being, moreover, cured on the inside and beingprovided with an improved means for closing the necessary aperturetherein. This object I accomplish in the manner and by the meanshereinafter described and claimed, reference being had to theaccompanying drawings, in which-- Figure 1 is an elevation of a suitableform on which the article is giventhe desired configuration, the articlebeing shown thereon in section. Fig. 2 is a sectional view of thearticle after its removal from the form. Fig. 3 is a similar view of acompleted article, in this instance a ball. Fig. 4 is a similar view ofa completed water-bag.

Similar numerals of reference denote cor- 0 responding parts in theseveral views.

In carrying out my improved process to form a rubber ball, for instance,I first provide a bath of rubber cement of the proper consistency, intowhich is dipped the solid 5 form 1, said dipping being repeated untilthere is formed thereon a ball 2 of the desired thickness. The form 1 isprovided with an extension 3 not only for convenience in handling, butprimarily for the purpose of forming a neck or stem 4 on the ball 1during the dipping, it being observed that said extension 3 is flaredoutward at 5 for a short distance from its point of juncture with theform to give the neck or stem 4 a similarly-flared con- 5 figuration, asshown in Fig. 2. After the dipping has given the desired thickness tothe ball, which may be thus made light or heavy, according to the use towhich it is to be put, the rubber constituting the ball is then curedWhile on the form and is then removed therefrom,whieh may be morereadilyaccomplished by first heating the same by dipping it in hot waterand then distending the neck or stem 4 suffieiently to permit thepassage therethrough of the form 1. The ball 2 (shown removed from theform in Fig. 2) is then turned inside out to bring the cured surfacethereof on the inside, and the neck or stem 4 is reversed, so as toproject into the ball, after which a plug 6, of rubber or other suitable6o material, isinserted thereinto and firmly cemented to said'neck orstem 4, as shown in Fig. 3, it being observed that said plug is of theexact configuration of said neck or stem, the inward-flaringshape of thetwo materially aiding to prevent said plug being forced out,particularly if the ball is inflated. By forming this neck or stem 4 onthe ball a firm opening is provided for the ball which neither bulgesnor sinks when the ball is turned inside out, while the walls thereofafford a large area for cementing thereto the plug 6.

I have shown in Fig. 4 an article 7 of a shape suitable for a Water-bag,the same being made by the process hereinbefore described, the

plug 8 inserted thereinto being provided with a threaded aperture forthe reception of a.

suitable stopper 9, usually employed in articles of this character, saidplug 8 also having the usual flaring mouth 10 to provide for pouring thewater thereinto.

While I have shown only a solid plug and a threaded plug, it will beunderstood that any other form of plug-a valved plug for inflation, forinstance-may be employed, the form of plug depending entirely on thenature and use of the article.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire tosecure by Letters Patent, is-

1. The process of manufacturing seamless hollow rubber articles, whichconsists in first forming a body portion and a neck or stem by dipping asuitable form in a'bath of rubber, then stripping said article so formedfrom 5 said form, then turning said neck or stem Within the interior ofthe body portion, and finally inserting a suitable closing-plug in saidneck or stem, substantially as set forth.

2. The process of manufacturing seamless 10o hollow rubber articles,which consists in first forming a body portion and a neck or stem bydipping a suitable form in a bath of rubber, then curing said article soformed while on the form, then stripping said article from In testimonywhereof I have hereunto set the form, then turning said article insideOut my hand in the presence of two subscribing to bring the curedsurface on the inside, then witnesses.

turning said neck or stem within the interior THOMAS XV. MILLER. 5 0fthe body portion, and finally inserting and \Vitnesses:

fastening a suitable closing-plug in said neck J. A. H. MYERS,

or stem, substantially as set forth. DAYTON A. DOYLE.

